In 1996, I received
a call from Dave Rumsey, of Holland Michigan, who had bought
the Ole 17. He was restoring it and wanted to know its
history. After hearing of the car's stellar past, he decided
to find a Studebaker Champion engine and make the car as
original as possible.

I put Dave in
contact with Dick Welch, the son of George Welch, of
Alexandria, New Hampshire. With the 50th anniversary of
winning the Badger Midget Auto Racing Associations
Championship just around the corner plans had to be made and
made fast.

Dick contacted
Badger and proposed a celebration at their home track of
Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. They agreed
and scheduled the 50th Anniversary to coincide with their
show case event, the "Pepsi 50".

On August 31, 1997,
I climbed back behind the wheel of the Welch
Special, at the age of 77. The laps werent as
fast as they once were, but the excitement was the
same.

A special thanks to
Badger (BMARA), Angell Park Speedway, Dick Welch and Dave
Rumsey for making this happen. You truly made this a
memorable day one that I will never
forget.